Witness P.S. O'Hegarty, Highfield House, Highfield. goad, Rathgar, Dublin. Identity. Subject. Nil

Transcription

1 RONN COSANTA. BUREAU OF MLTARY HSTORY, STATEMENT BY WTNESS DOCUMENT NO. W.S. 459 Witness P.S. O'Hegarty, Highfield House, Highfield. goad, Rathgar, Dubl. dentity Member of Supreme Council of.r.b. Subject The Brith Oath of Allegiance Conditions, if any, stipulated Witness Nil File No. S.49 FormB,S.M.2.

2 Memo me Orthy scargrov, 1918 Th arose not a rewliton callg first, pupae seconder Mr commons me early part heresy 9 august, 1918, pnate amfter all partier. member, at time on holiday at portstewart to report pres, judfed from my be, debate re memt spster if leady that both would import, all parties of at once sent usejuction, statg projectg room, that a imption pot on as out it oath, Prtery bread c equipment made use me when where olsecred simpulvery my Leve 1897, havg condition n impose, that Sunday Then to placg remember that it proceedg date from 13th august, 12th after that how no just h leonoterfe believe re some oppontion 1st west it not from union sun strong do not remember any Burt end, denial as exemte crone grader, morng on or side, but been offontion organized rate afflicted as Agnes fords my, clean eve odult menges, belepaybiers, berg exempte, spe re some sort portiere, sortg chards, as arm affirmation, sport of an onse, ampler heir

3 Me whole formation deserved may however, be abbrimed from defartment of Fivame. n 1922 on clove now to first tamp man who were Dirme Jr cases review dermivial a reipration wall unfore referrg deer to pocitrial cirunstumes charma c small who moestigated Lurants ce both clean as doubtful cores, on n to made recommendation boy hyty plow all, me mesher ant hart with commenter, fryel reference to as "viationzaher" familiarly committee, it should be eary to fd it for records France. Full statements an reports were made, we were gives every asstance Brita amenities me Perceval jeers OMiers concave berg foreside where derived remember people who arbitrarily refed bath wce dozen, very small, mort round about more who afflied a Fr restatement cone people who reused "to batter my pontoon" on "Fr rooms bereave" soon, nor havg cowage to actively

4 Refra oath Mary n, coven, motivated no movement actval political monies, offitiation to as levept me ever wheel re national drutt fire thon cores. re c second vut Bat committee ward cater, after civil compliably died own, about also camiwan, who bad nit afflied coos, some fenns committee 1922 because my to furt Were considered wen re efulars. fail c after third, France Card re white remstated mary people tone OMic, wce c who bad no real claim at all pcushion chairman yes not c member Fortquity 9 Dec 50

5 The Oath of Allegiance, Th arose out of a resolution callg for it, proposed seconded House of Commons early part of August, 1918, private members, accepted all parties. at time on holiday at Portstewart with my wife, read report Press. judged from debate House speeches of leadg members of all parties that Oath would be imposed, at once sent my resignation, statg reason, protestg agast imposition of an Oath, potg out that it a breach of agreement made with me when entered Service 1897, havg scrupulously observed only condition n imposed, that of secrecy. seem to remember that it dated 13th August, 1918, thus placg proceedgs House on 12th. After that have no first-h knowledge. believe that re some opposition, on ground that it not necessary lower grades, some of strong Unions on or side, but do not remember any organed opposition here. But, end, Oath applied clerical executive higher grades only, classes like Adult Messengers, Postmen, sortg clerks, Telegraphts, beg exempted. And also thk re some sort of affirmation, short of an Oath, accepted here. The whole of formation desired may, however, be obtaed from Department of Fance.

6 -2- n 1922 one of first thgs done to review cases of men who were dmsed. for refusg Oath, or whose dmsal or resignation due to political circumstances. Chairman of a small body of highly placed Civil Servants who vestigated all cases, both clear cases doubtful ones, made recommendations on m to Mter. forget exact title of Committee, but it familiarly referred to as "Victimation" Committee, it should be easy to fd, it from records Fance. Full statements reports were made, we were given every asstance Brith authorities, personal files of officers concerned beg forwarded where desired. The number of people who actually refused Oath very small, round about a dozen, thk. Most of those who applied for restatement were people who retired "to better my position", or "for reasons of health" so on, not havg courage to actually refuse Oath. Many of m were, of course, motivated political motives, even where re no actual affiliation to National movement, benefit of doubt given those cases. There a second Victimation Committee later, after Civil War had completely died down, of which also Chairman, some genue cases, who had not applied to first Committee 1922 because y were n rregulars, were considered. And re a third, after Fianna Fáil took office, which restated many people who had no real claim at all. thk a politician Chairman of it - not a member. (Signed) P.S. O'Hegarty. Dec. 50.